FdSc Computer Games Design and Development Foundation degree at South Gloucestershire and Stroud College
FdSc Computer Games Design and Development at SGSC. You'll work on real projects alongside core coursework, gaining both the conceptual foundation and practical toolkit needed in the industry.
About this course
FdSc Computer Games Design and Development | University Centre SGS Please be advised that SGS College will be closed from Friday 19 December, until Tuesday 6 January 2026. From the provider’s course page.
FdSc Computer Games Design and Development is a Foundation degree (FdSc) at SGSC, based in University Centre WISE Campus. It is studied part-time; duration varies by route.
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Art & Design, see the sections below.
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Level 4 4 modules
- Creative Design, Development and Production Techniques for Video GamesCore
Module details
This module aims to introduce you to the theory and practical aspects of design, development, and production of video games, including but not limited to physical prototyping, digital prototyping and the initial stages of the production pipeline. You will enhance your knowledge and understanding of video games and genres as well as development and production methodologies. You will also have the opportunity to explore a range of creative approaches and evolve technical skills using industry stan
Assessment: Assignment: 30% (1,500 words or equivalent) Practical Assessment: 70% (3,000 words or equivalent)
- Introduction to 3D Modelling and Game GraphicsCore
Module details
This module will introduce you to the industry tools and techniques that are involved in 3D Modelling and Texturing for video games. You will focus on asset modelling and texturing for game content in order to create modular components to build game environments.
Assessment: Portfolio: 50% (2250 words or equivalent) Portfolio: 50% (2250 words or equivalent)
- Fundamentals of Game EnginesCore
Module details
In this module you will be developing and producing a range of functioning game mechanic prototypes, that enable gamers' interaction and experience. Using an industry standard game engine, you will have an opportunity to explore and interact with the software. develop technical skills, and evolve your knowledge and understanding of creative thinking, central to the technical production of video game content.
Assessment: Portfolio: 50% (2250 words or equivalent) Portfolio: 50% (2250 words or equivalent)
- Fundamentals of Games ProgrammingCore
Module details
In this module you will be developing and producing a range of functioning game mechanics, utilising a programming language, towards a prototype project that enable users' interaction and experience. Using an integrated development environment and within an industry standard game engine, you will be introduced to the fundamentals and principles of a programming language, allowing the opportunity to explore and interact with the software's, develop further technical skills and enhance your knowle
Assessment: 70% Portfolio 3150 words (or equivalent) 30% Assignment 1350 words (or equivalent)
Level 5 5 modules
- Game ProductionCore
Module details
This module will simulate a small 'Games Studio' environment where you will work in a team comprised of students from multiple discipline pathways. Building on both interpersonal and technical skills, you will negotiate roles and create a production plan to develop an artefact, which will then form the basis for critical reflection. You will work in your teams under the supervision of staff, to create a vertical slice of a game experience product to include mechanic behaviour, artistic represent
Assessment: 30% Presentation 2400 words (or equivalent) 70% Portfolio 3600 words (or equivalent)
- User Interface & Extended Games ProgrammingCore
Module details
In this module you will be developing knowledge around interactive user interfaces (UIs) and extending upon programming languages applications, all of which enable gamers' interaction and experience. Using an industry standard game engine and within an integrated development environment, you will have an opportunity to practically develop both an interactive user interface (UI) and a programmed game experience, both of which will be referenced to an existing video game product. This will allow y
Assessment: 50% Portfolio 3000 words (or equivalent) 50% Portfolio 3000 words (or equivalent)
- Sector-based Work PlacementCore
Module details
This module aims to prepare you for the industry through practical experience in a sector relevant placement, comprising 20 hours. There will be a clear focus on industry expectations, personal reflection and wider employability skills, ensuring you are prepared to enter the job market and successfully progress with your career.
Assessment: Portfolio: 100% (3000 words or equivalent)
- Extended Game EnginesCore
Module details
In this module you will be developing complex scripting skills through practical exploration and apply attention to product detail through design and iteration. Using an industry standard game engine, you will have an opportunity to produce and develop your own designed video game experience, from initial concept to polished product; further develop your technical skills, and enhance your knowledge and understanding of creative thinking, towards the whole production and implementation of video g
Assessment: Portfolio: 70% (4500 words or equivalent) Assignment: 30% (1500 words or equivalent)
- Emergent TechnologyCore
Module details
The module aims to develop your research abilities and investigative skills in the context of emergent technologies and industry trends. Exploring the production pipeline and production processes you will have an opportunity to explore various innovations and trends in the sector providing you with a platform to make informed discoveries which can then be experimented within. This experience will be reflective of the industry structure and expectations in both content and practical application.
Assessment: Portfolio: 100% (3,000 words or equivalent)
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
You'll study the creative and technical foundations of games design and development. A course like this typically moves from visual studies, design principles and materials across your first year, then progresses to sustained studio practice and digital media in the second year. You'll usually explore live briefs and real-world projects alongside your own work. In your final year, you'll focus on a specialist pathway, such as graphic design, illustration, UX & digital, fine art, or fashion & textiles, before developing a self-directed major project for your degree show. Throughout, you'll build your visual language, learn contemporary tools and processes, and develop a portfolio that positions your work for industry or independent practice.
Who it's for
You're someone drawn to gaming, whether you love the visual storytelling, the systems design, or the challenge of making interactive experiences work. You'll thrive if you're naturally curious about how games are made, comfortable learning industry-standard tools, and keen to bridge creative vision with technical execution. Expect to balance independent problem-solving with collaborative teamwork, and to develop a portfolio you're genuinely proud of alongside your formal qualification.
Careers & job market
Across Art & Design courses nationally, 87% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months of graduating. Of those in employment, 55% are in highly skilled roles. National graduate earnings data shows starting salaries (15 months after graduation) typically in the range £22,000–£27,000, rising to £20,825–£29,400 after five years. Your actual outcome will depend on your specialisation, the roles you pursue, and your location.
University & format
This FdSc is delivered part-time at South Gloucestershire and Stroud College, a higher education college located at the University Centre WISE Campus. Instruction is in English. The course is recognised by a UK degree-awarding body, so your qualification is nationally recognised.
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
Part-time application dates vary by provider. UCAS dates
Work placement. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
Opened 2 July 2026; last choice 19 October 2026. Check vacancies now. A cached page never claims a place is still available.
Entry & how to get in
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course. One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by Apply directly to the provider
Part-time application dates vary by provider. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Standard capped home fee at English providers (2026/27); Scotland, Wales & NI differ.
Check fees at SGSC →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Art & Design graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in art & design · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Art & Design nationally
National figures for Art & Design graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
Job market & outlook
How Art & Design graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Art & Design graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Design studios & agencies
- In-house brand teams
- Games & media companies
- Freelance & self-employed
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Art & Design graduates.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Design, and creative and performing arts across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around University Centre WISE Campus
533 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Art & Design right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to SGSC from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by SGSC; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check SGSC’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with SGSC and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at SGSC
Common questions
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates earn?
What will it cost me?
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